The Toronto Maple Leafs weren’t able to come to terms with Tyler Bertuzzi on a new contract and now it sounds like it won’t be taking him long to find a new home.
According to multiple reports, including from The Leafs Nation’s Jay Rosehill, Bertuzzi is expected to sign with the Chicago Blackhawks. The deal is likely coming in for four years and around the $5.5 million mark.
I’m hearing Tyler Bertuzzi will sign with Chicago tomorrow at Noon ET…@DailyFaceoff
— Jay Rosehill (@Jay_D_Rosehill) July 1, 2024
Bertuzzi, 29, spent one season with the Maple Leafs and after admitting during training camp that it was going to be interesting to play in front of a wild fan base and media circus, he brushed off a very slow start and became an impact player in Toronto.
The Sudbury, ON native finished the season with 21 goals and 43 points in 80 games and added another four points in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games. Bertuzzi made $5.5 million in Toronto last season and appears to have settled on the same AAV heading into his next contract.
The Maple Leafs were busy on Sunday which in turn may have been the beginning of the end for Bertuzzi. General manager Brad Treliving re-signed Max Domi to a four-year contract extension and then turned around and re-signed defenseman Timothy Liljegren to a two-year contract. After both deals were announced, the Maple Leafs had a projected $12 million in cap space and a need to add at least two defensemen and a backup goaltender, so the math wasn’t adding up in Bertuzzi’s favor.
In Chicago, Bertuzzi will get a chance to play top-six minutes and could see some time on the wing of Connor Bedard. It’s another original six team for the veteran winger who has also spent time with the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, and now moves on to a historic franchise in Chicago. Expect the Blackhawks to be very busy on day one of free agency as they look to expedite their rebuild. The Maple Leafs on the other hand, will move on from Bertuzzi and appear focused to make significant changes to their blue line this summer.
